(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Sebastian Fundora to Defend WBC Title Against Keith Thurman in Las Vegas
Sebastian Fundora will have the chance to repay a debt in the ring when he faces former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman on October 18 in Las Vegas. The WBC junior middleweight title defense is set following a verbal agreement confirmed by two officials, according to BoxingScene.
Fundora, 27, originally became a champion thanks to Thurman. In March 2024, Fundora stepped in as a late replacement for an injured Thurman and defeated Australia’s Tim Tszyu via a bloody split decision, capturing the WBC and WBO belts. Thurman had withdrawn from the bout due to a biceps injury sustained in training.
Since then, Fundora successfully defended his title twice. On July 19, he repeated his victory over Tszyu with a seventh-round TKO, dropping him in the first round and forcing him to quit on the stool. Earlier, in April, Fundora secured a fourth-round TKO over Chordale Booker, showing he is ready for a third fight this year.
Thurman, ranked No. 8 by the WBC, returned to the ring in March after a three-year hiatus. He earned victories over Mario Barrios in 2022 and Brock Jarvis via third-round TKO in Sydney. The 36-year-old former champion, who suffered his only career loss against Manny Pacquiao in 2019, attended Fundora’s title win and expressed interest in fighting the victor.
The bout is expected to be part of a Prime Video pay-per-view card, generating high anticipation among boxing fans. With Fundora’s rising star power and Thurman’s veteran experience, the fight promises to be a thrilling clash in the junior middleweight division.
